Believe Again vs. It Will Be A Good Day

[John Vehadija]

I think there is somehow a connection between these two songs

[Mr. Holland]

It'll be a Good Day is my favourite song from The Ladder. Its message just resonates with me and combined with the music the resonation is there even on a physical level. I like Believe Again, but It'll be a Good Day is special to me.

[Skankindead]

I think there is somehow a connection between these two songs

Make me believe again

-Jon Anderson, It Will Be A Good Day (The River)

Hmmmmmmmm...

In all seriousness, The River is a rather pretty song that sets the tone for The Ladder very well. Believe Again is my least favorite Yes opener, is in my opinion a complete snoozefest, and sets the tone for Heaven & Earth very well. No contest for me.

[soundchaser09]

hmmm I'm not a huge fan of either to be honest, one of the lesser songs on the Ladder and honestly I think there's better stuff on Heaven and Earth than Believe Again- I think It Will be a Good Day wins very narrowly.

[Ash Armstrong]

Learning to listen, learning to see
Learning is power, making me free.

[Gtkgasman]

Again. I say no contest between a wonderful Ladder/Jon A song and a good tune from HE. It will be a good day!

[Gilly Goodness]

Jon said IWBAGD was inspired by a friendly Torontonian (is that a word?) Newspaper seller near Fairbairn's studio who would daily greet our Jon with this cheery proclamation! Lovely tune, shimmery keys from Igor. Epic singing from Jon.

BA took awhile for me to love. Steve's guitar seemed narcoleptic. Better edit on the fan edit on youtube.
Good message, nice melodies. But IWBAGD by a bee's appendage.



SAVE THE BOGONG MOTH

[pjt]

Aaaargh, both.

[Khatrooper]

Jon said IWBAGD was inspired by a friendly Torontonian (is that a word?) Newspaper seller near Fairbairn's studio who would daily greet our Jon with this cheery proclamation!

Torontonian is the correct collective noun for the unfortunate ones who live there (Canuck in-joke) but The Ladder was recorded in Vancouver.

And to answer the OP, neither.

[Sharp On Attack]

I actually much prefer Believe Again. To my ears IWBAGD is just of of those typical Jon love songs with not much YES in it.

[rabin105]

my wife will kill me but I have to go for Believe Again

[Davy]

I like both songs, but IWBAGD is a little better. Unfortunately I mentally confused it with If Only You Knew and voted for Believe Again instead. Like The Game and Light of the Ages, if Believe Again was trimmed by a verse and chorus it could be a stronger song. Maybe one day Yes will release a remixed version of H&E as well.

[True]

I always assumed or believed that It Will Be A Good Day was primarily written by Jon Anderson, but then I saw a comment somewhere by Billy Sherwood, wherein I believe he said that Sherwood had written the music to that song while he was in his teens and he contributed that to The Ladder. Does anyone welse remember seeing this comment?

[pjt]

I always assumed or believed that It Will Be A Good Day was primarily written by Jon Anderson, but then I saw a comment somewhere by Billy Sherwood, wherein I believe he said that Sherwood had written the music to that song while he was in his teens and he contributed that to The Ladder. Does anyone welse remember seeing this comment?

If I recall correctly, the chorus part is Billy's, and the verses came from Jon. But my memory is not what I remember it was.